“We are grateful to (the judge) for hearing this matter but respectfully disagree with today’s decision,” Goodell said in a statement.” “We will appeal today’s ruling in order to uphold the collectively bargained responsibility to potect the integrity of the game. The commissioner’s responsibilty to secure the competative fairness of our game is a paratmount principle, and the league and our 32 clubs will continue to pursue a path to that end. While the legal phase of this process continues we look forward to focusing on football and the opneing of the regular season.”

U.S. District Judge Richard Berman in New York vacated Brady’s four-game ban earlier on Thursday, ruling that Goodell’s decision in July to uphold Brady’s suspension was legally flawed.